Wrestling: Galway resigns in coaching shakeup at Frederick

Longtime wrestling coach spent 36 seasons at helm of Warriors program

Frederick wrestling patriarch Gerry Galway has resigned after leading the Warriors wrestling program for 36 seasons.
(
Greg Lindstrom
)

Throughout his 36-year tenure at Frederick High School, Gerry Galway has never been the sort of wrestling coach who could ever be content barking orders and instructions from a seat along the sideline.

When a series of physical ailments began to make Galway's hands-on approach more difficult to execute this past winter, the veteran head coach began to concede the writing was on the wall.

A Colorado wrestling institution has decided to hang up his whistle as Galway has resigned from his post at Frederick.

The loss of the Warriors' longtime wrestling leader is just one dynamic of a shakeup in the Frederick athletic department. Galway's replacement already is in place, as 12-year assistant and Frederick graduate Bobby Matthews has already assumed the reins of the Warriors wrestling program. Given the length of Galway's tenure, Matthews is just the third head coach in the program's history.

Additionally Roger Dufour has opted to resign his post as Frederick's girls basketball coach, although Dufour will remain the Warriors' softball coach.

"There were a number of different factors, but certainly the two surgeries I had during the school year weighed on me," Galway said. "But one of the main reasons is just that it's time. Bobby has paid his dues. He's put his heart and soul into the program and he's ready for it.

"I'm sure when the season starts next year I'll miss it. But I know this is the best move in the big picture."

Hired at Frederick in August, 1978, Galway helped lead Warriors wrestlers to four individual state championships — most notably three consecutive won by Toby Lopez from 1995 through 1997.

Advertisement

Galway also helped start the Frederick Wrestling Club youth program in 2000 and will remain on the organization's board of directors for another year. He also will retain his teaching position at the school for at least one more year.

However, the strain of Galway's recent injuries became too much to overcome in the wrestling room. In September Galway underwent hip replacement surgery. In March he had arm surgery to correct nerve damage from an old injury. For a coach who always took great pride in getting his hands dirty during his team's workouts, being relegated to the sideline was not a situation that sat comfortably with Galway.

"It's going to be rough for sure, but I know it's the right time," Galway said. "You miss the relationships with the kids. Seeing where they go after high school and the success they have, and knowing you have played a small part in it somehow, that's the reward. It's not wins and losses."

Matthews, a 1997 Frederick graduate who competed for Galway, already has named a new assistant coach in Billy Gardner. Matthews has been juggling his assistant wrestling coach job at Frederick with the head softball coach job at Niwot, a situation that will remain intact as Matthews will retain his job leading the Niwot softball squad. He simply will have to learn to intensify his juggling efforts.

"I've been an assistant at Frederick for 12 years, so this is exciting and at the same time a little weird," Matthews said. "I've been coaching both for that same time, so it's not going to be too different.

"Last year was the first time in a long time we've been that down. But we have a good 80 to 100 kids in our youth program, and I think the future is bright and we'll get back to what we were four, five years ago."

MacIntyre feels Colorado is capable of making run at bowl gameCU BUFFS FALL CAMPWhen: 29 practices beginning Wednesday morning 8:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices are open to the media and public next week. Full Story

It didn't take long for Denver music observers to notice Plume Varia. Husband and wife Shon and Cherie Cobbs formed the band only two years ago, but after about a year they started finding themselves on best-of lists and playing the scene's top venues. Full Story